WAIMEA — Kayla Nakaya couldn’t believe she won a new Dell computer. But she did, as part of 11 students at the Boys & Girls Club Waimea Clubhouse who qualified for their rewards as part of the Power Hour program,
WAIMEA — Kayla Nakaya couldn’t believe she won a new Dell computer.
But she did, as part of 11 students at the Boys & Girls Club Waimea Clubhouse who qualified for their rewards as part of the Power Hour program, said Evan Meeks, the B&G Youth Development Officer in Education and the Arts.
Meeks said he goes out to secure funds for the premiums and shops for the rewards using both local stores as well as purchasing items available from the Boys & Girls Club.
“We based Power Hour on the B&G model, although it wasn’t as intense,” Meeks said. “There was a real need.”
Nakaya was the top student in the Power Hour program that ended at the end of the school year in May.
That honor earned her the new computer.
Kalei Nakaya went home with a 4GB MP3 video/picture/radio combo for his second-place finish in the year.
Taylor Lagazo, Kekoa Cotchay and Vakeesha Lagazo each earned a 1 GB MP3 voice and radio combination player for their achievements in the program as well.
In addition to the “winners” from the 2005-06 school year, Meeks distributed premiums for students who are currently in the lead of the Power Hour program for the school year that started in July.
Special B&G bags emblazoned with the B&G logo and a lanyard were distributed to Rowena Delacruz, Shelcy Moniz, Brayden Santiago, Jamen Wilson, Shannon Vidinha and Morgan Marois.
Meeks said all of the qualifying students earn certificates for free ice cream from Obsessions Cafe and a cheeseburger from Da Booze Shop.
“Power Hour is only one of many programs that are being offered through the B&G, Waimea Clubhouse,” Meeks said.
Power Hour works to motivate students to develop reading skills or even do routine homework.
The program relies on a reward system with encouraging results states a B&G Web site.
Participating students are rewarded for the time they spend reading approved books, doing homework and showing improvement in school grades.
Adjacent to the gym, students were busy making masks as part of the B&G Journey program, a self-discovery program headed by “Aunty” Bernie Brown.
“Journey is a program for teens,” Brown said. “The students take a walk through their past, present and future to set goals for themselves.”
The mask-making that was taking place was for an outing she was planning for Journey participants to a beach house in November.
“We have a lot of things happening here,” Meeks said. “Aunty Bernie is sponsoring a dance Friday night, too.”
Meeks said there are about 150 to 200 students who regularly utilize the facility located across the WHS athletic field.
